Pensacola area opponents of military plans to hold maneuvers in Blackwater River and Tate's Hell state forests may mistakenly believe they have slowed down the bureaucratic process.

Opponents of proposed military maneuvers in Panhandle state forests may mistakenly believe they have slowed the idea's bureaucratic momentum; VA counselors will visit Milton; and Heroes Among Us gains popularity and donations.

Push back

Opponents of the Air Force's proposal to conduct military maneuvers in the Blackwater River and Tate's Hell state forests are congratulating each other for having slowed the government's final decision on the idea.

But they really haven't had a noticeable impact so far.

"Those who threw yourself body and soul to protect our beloved forests and all who did some little bit, we stopped the fast train," wrote Barbara Albrecht, the University of West Florida's watershed coordinator, who opposes widespread military activities in the forest, in a June 24 email to similarly minded area residents.

Albrecht cited two developments: a unanimous vote against the military's plans by the Franklin County Commission, and what she described as a decision by the Acquisitions and Restoration Council in Tallahassee to wait until the Air Force completes its environmental impact statement to take any action for or against the proposal.

"Nothing has changed," said Mike Spaits, a spokesman for the Air Force who works at Eglin Air Force Base and specializes in environmental issues.

He's right. For one thing, the Franklin County Commission vote occurred in September. That vote came several days after a public hearing on the Air Force plans in Apalachicola, at which considerable opposition emerged.

Further, as the News Journal previously reported, four of the the Acquisitions and Restoration Council's 10 members are gubernatorial appointees. Gov. Rick Scott has essentially approved the military's plans.

And, as reported, the council has long planned to withhold its position until after the Air Force's environmental impact statement is released, which may be near the end of 2014.

Veterans outreach

Counselors from the Department of Veterans Affairs plan to offer free readjustment counseling services from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Walmart Supercenter, 4965 U.S. 90 in Milton.

Heroes on a roll

Pensacola's Heroes Among Us speakers series is picking up momentum. The June 27 event, featuring retired Navy combat Corpsman Tom Eagles, drew about 220 people to Veterans Memorial Park, the largest crowd so far. In addition, the guests donated more than $800 to the Marines in Distress fund, which benefits needy veterans.